Jesus is the
Saviour of the world.
“… the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.”
1 John 4v14
Why would we want a Saviour? What do we need saving from?
Many people believe they are in control of their lives and that they can determine their own destiny. Anyone living this way has subtly been deceived into following the devil’s agenda for their life. The devil makes it as easy and seamless as possible for anyone to walk on the wide path to destruction, convincing them it’s all their own idea to live however they feel is right for them.
“…for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it…”
Matthew 7v13-14 (NKJV)
People who live this way believe they are subject to no one and are independent of anyone else’s authority over their lives. However in reality, those who choose to go their own way have actually become part of something quite sinister and don’t realise that they are not independent at all. The Bible teaches that those who don’t belong to God actually belong to Satan himself (Satan is another name for the devil). (See 1 John 3v8 [1], John 8v44 [2])
“But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning…”
1 John 3v8
The devil is very sly and cunning, and deceives people into thinking it’s all their own idea to continue doing whatever they please. He leads many to believe that nothing can harm them, that their life is their own, and that they are ‘good’ people if they stay ‘true to self’.
People going their own way do not realise they are under the sway of the wicked one.
(See 1 John 5v19 [3])
People who live this way are actually under the influence and deceptions of the devil. He is a very good deceiver and keeps people under his control through the power of suggestion in the mind; using tactics like coercion, luring, hooking, tempting, intimidating, dominating or wooing, all in an effort to manipulate people into doing what he wants.
What exactly
does the devil want?
The devil wants people to go down his path of sin so that they will suffer the same fate that’s coming to him - eternal torment. Revelation 20v10 “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (NKJV)
The devil, also referred to as a ‘thief’, hates the future punishment that is coming to him and he hates every single person created by God. Jesus taught in John 10v10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (NKJV)
Satan’s pathway for your life is wide and easy;
and his way leads to death and eternal punishment
(See Matthew 25v46 [4])
God’s pathway requires sacrifice and turning away from sin;
and His way leads to freedom and eternal life
(See John 3v16 [5])
Satan is a master manipulator and the Bible teaches that he’s the father of all lies (see John 8v44 [6]). He often approaches people as an angel of light (see 2 Corinthians 11v14 [7]) presenting ideas that appear warm, enticing, fun, comforting and often quite exciting - but those who fall for them soon realise that everything he offered them turns bitter and leaves them feeling regretful and burdened with guilt, shame and condemnation.
Sin feels good for a time, but it very quickly turns rotten and sour, leading to many problems in our lives.
All sins, whether they be small misdemeanours or huge mistakes - lead to death.
All sin leads to problems; including sickness, disease, illnesses or pains, guilt, mental torment and ultimately - death.
The Bible teaches that the wages we receive for our sins is the death penalty (see Romans 6v23 [8]), and that all people have sinned. Each and every one of us, without exception, have sinned and fallen short of God’s perfect standard (righteousness).
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,…”
Romans 3v23 (NKJV)
Because God loves us so much, He prepared and made a way for us to be free from the consequences of our sin. He sent someone to pay our debt - someone who was willing to pay the death penalty with their own life, on our behalf.
That person was God’s only Son, Jesus.
Jesus willingly took the death penalty for our sin.
“Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.”
Galatians 1v4 (NLT)
God gave the most precious thing He could give - His only Son Jesus - so we could be free from the bondage of sin and death (see John 3v16 [9]). What amazing love, that God would give His only Son to die in our place, when we did nothing to deserve this extraordinary act.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5v8
This all took place many years ago, when God sent His only Son Jesus from heaven to earth to save us all from the sway of the wicked one (the devil). When Jesus paid the death penalty for our sins, He wiped away the debt we owed for our sins so that we could receive the gracious gift of eternal life and become a part of God’s kingdom. What an amazing and completely undeserved gift!
Eternal life is not automatically accredited to everyone, and is rightly only given to those who choose to repent, believe and follow Jesus with all their heart.
Those who believe, follow and obey Jesus will inherit eternal life.
“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
John 14v21 (NKJV)
The Bible teaches that anyone who confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord of their life, and sincerely believes in their heart that God raised Him from the dead, they will be saved. After Jesus died on the cross, He was laid in a tomb and on the third day, He was resurrected from the grave by the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus is alive today! This is the good news of how Jesus overcame sin and death and offers eternal life to those who follow Him.
“…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10v9 (NKJV)
Jesus is a real person
and He is also God.
Those who know Him will openly tell you they experience a real, living relationship with Him and have received the acceptance and love they were looking for their whole lives. A common experience to many is like having a huge weight lifted off their life as they receive freedom from guilt, shame and condemnation - that only comes through the miracle power and grace of God. This gift of eternal life is given to all those who believe in Jesus and follow Him with all their heart. The way to receive eternal life (in heaven with the Father) is to surrender your life completely to Jesus, turn away from your independent life and live for Him alone. This has nothing to do with joining a religious organisation or church system, this is simply all about following the person of Jesus.
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Matthew 16v24-26 (NKJV)
Jesus loves you
and gave His life for you.
There are no catches or hidden surprises in following Jesus, and He is not interested in religious organisations. In fact, He spent much of His time on earth exposing false religious leaders who placed heavy baggage and legalistic expectations on people through rule keeping and hidden agendas. Jesus chooses people to personally follow Him, and those who hear and follow His call become a valuable part of His body of believers around the world.
There is only one way to inheriting eternal life and that is through the person of Jesus. There is no other way to God the Father, except through Jesus Christ God’s Son.
JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE.
"Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ "
John 14v6
Where are you today?
Are you under the sway of the wicked one?
“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”
1 John 5v19 (NKJV)
Or are you under the safety of Jesus Christ, God’s Son?
“We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.”
1 John 5v18 (NKJV)
The only one who can offer true love, peace, safety and security is Jesus.
God’s love is perfect and frees us from fear and torment in our lives.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love cast out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
1 John 4v18
God’s love is perfect and frees us from all the fears that torment us in this life. God made the first move of love toward us by sending His Son Jesus to die for us. Do you want to receive the life He has for you, free from pain, torment and to know true love?
Turn from going your own way. Follow Jesus and you will receive love, freedom, forgiveness and eternal life.
If you are ready to turn from going your own way, you can pray this prayer [10] wherever you are today, no matter how far you have strayed from God. His undeserved favour is given to all who truly repent and follow Him. He loves you and wants to give you the freedom you’ve searched for your whole life.
Click Here: Pray this prayer to follow Jesus >
1 John 3v8 (NKJV) “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” ↩︎
John 8v44 (NKJV) “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” ↩︎
1 John 5v19 (NKJV) “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” ↩︎
Matthew 25v46 (NKJV) “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” ↩︎
John 3v16 (NKJV) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” ↩︎
John 8v44 - see reference 2 above. ↩︎
2 Corinthians 11v14 (NKJV) “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” ↩︎
Romans 6v23 (NKJV) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ↩︎
John 3v16 - see reference 5 above. ↩︎
The Rising Prayers: Click here to go to the Repentance Prayer ↩︎